Outboard motor brace

ABSTRACT

The apparatus includes a pin, a pair of plates and a brace. The pin, in use, is received by one of the pairs of trim holes of an outboard engine mounting bracket. The pair of plates, in use, is secured to the main assembly of the outboard motor using the other of the pairs of holes. The brace is adapted, when the brace and the main assembly are operatively positioned and when the lower unit of the outboard motor is locked against movement away from the transom, to be gripped between the plates and the pin, to restrain the main assembly against said pivotal movement.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/502,920 filed May 8, 2017; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by references.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of outboard motors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known, when trailering a boat of the type that has an outboard motor, to lock the motor against movement, to avoid damage to the transom. However, known locks suffer from an unattractive combination of cost, ease of use and utility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for use with a boat having an outboard motor and a transom, the outboard motor being of the type having a engine mounting bracket assembly, a steering post and a main assembly.

The engine mounting bracket assembly includes a portion gripping the transom and a portion defining a plurality of pairs of trim holes.

The steering post is pivotally mounted to the engine mounting bracket assembly.

The main assembly includes: a powerhead containing an engine; a midsection extending from the powerhead; a lower unit extending from the powerhead; and a steering post bearing bracket disposed proximal to the junction of the midsection and lower unit.

The steering post bearing bracket: defines a bore through which the steering post extends, thereby to permit rotational movement of the main assembly about the steering post; defines two pairs of bolt holes, one of the pairs being disposed on the side of the steering post nearest the main assembly, the other of the pairs being disposed on the side of the steering post furthest the main assembly; and, for each bolt hole, has a nut and bolt assembly, collectively securing the steering post bearing bracket to the post.

The apparatus comprises: a pin which, in use, is received by one of the pairs of trim holes; a pair of plates which, in use, are secured to the main assembly using the other of the pairs of holes; and a brace which is adapted, when the brace and main assembly are operatively positioned and when the lower unit is locked against movement away from the transom, to be gripped between the plates and the pin, to restrain the main assembly against said pivotal movement.

According to another aspect, the plates can define holes which, in use, communicate with the other of the pair of holes in the engine mounting bracket.

According to another aspect, the apparatus can further comprise two threaded rods and four nuts, which, in use, both secure the plate to the main assembly and provide for securement of the steering post bearing bracket to the post.

According to another aspect, the brace can have a bore; and the apparatus can further comprise a pivot rod which extends between the plates and through the bore in the brace in use.

According to another aspect, the brace can terminate in a slot which, in use, receives the pin.

According to another aspect, the brace can have a pair of bores and a pair of jaws; and the apparatus can further comprise a plurality of spacers, thereby to permit use of the apparatus with a variety of boats.

Further, advantages, features and characteristics of the invention will become apparent upon a review of the following detailed description with reference to the appended drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the structure of encircled area 2 of FIG. 1 arranged for use with a boat;

FIG. 3 is another view of the boat of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the structure of FIG. 1 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The exemplary embodiment 20 is shown in FIG. 1 and will be seen to include:

-   -   a mounting pin 22 having ends provided with throughpassages 24;     -   a pair of plates 26, each defining a pair of mounting holes 28         and a rod aperture 30     -   a brace 32 having a rectangular profile and defining a pair of         bores 34 and a pair of jaws 36, the bores and jaws being         disposed 90° apart     -   two threaded rods 38, four nuts 40 and a plurality of spacers 42     -   a pivot rod 44 having ends provided with throughpassages 46     -   four cotter pins 48

The apparatus 20 can be used with a wide variety of prior art boats: boats with which the apparatus can be used include:

-   -   a hull having a transom;     -   an outboard having:         -   a engine mounting bracket assembly including a portion             gripping the transom and a portion defining a plurality of             pairs of trim holes;         -   a steering post pivotally mounted to the engine mounting             bracket assembly;         -   a main assembly including: a powerhead containing an engine;             a midsection extending from the powerhead; a lower unit             extending from the powerhead; and a steering post bearing             bracket disposed proximal to the junction of the midsection             and lower unit, the steering post bearing bracket             -   defining a bore through which the steering post extends,                 thereby to permit rotational movement of the main                 assembly about the steering post; and             -   defining two pairs of bolt holes, one of the pairs being                 disposed on the side of the steering post nearest the                 main assembly, the other of the pairs being disposed on                 the side of the steering post furthest the main                 assembly; and             -   for each bolt hole, having a nut and bolt assembly,                 collectively securing the steering post bearing bracket                 to the post.

To use the apparatus to immobilize a motor, an initial step is to remove the bolts from the other pair of holes. Thereafter, the plates are mounted to the motor, using the threaded rods, nuts and, as necessary, spacers, as shown in FIG. 2.

Thence:

-   -   the brace is positioned between the plates and the pivot rod is         passed through the plates and through the bore and secured in         place by a pair of the cotter pins;     -   the motor is pivoted, and the brace is pivoted, until such time         as the mouth of the jaw can be sighted through a pair of the         trim holes;     -   the mounting pin is passed through such pair of trim holes and         secured in place by a pair of cotters; and     -   the main assembly is urged towards the transom [with the trim         control, if available], such that the brace is securely gripped         between the pins.

The end result of such steps is shown in FIG. 4

For greater clarity, the following structures of the prior art are identified in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4:

-   -   motor 50     -   bolts 52 in one pair of holes     -   steering post bearing bracket 54     -   steering post 56     -   transom 58     -   engine mounting bracket 60     -   trim holes 62

The apparatus can be used with a wide variety of boats of the contemplated type, by:

-   -   suitable use of spacers     -   suitable choice of trim hole; and     -   suitable choice of jaw/bore combination [whereas in the         drawings, the brace is shown with the broader profile facing the         hull, in some situations, the brace can be mounted and used with         the narrower profile facing the hull]

Whereas a specific embodiment is herein shown and described, variations are possible. For example, only: the brace need not have a rectangular profile; cotter pins need not be used to secure the pin/rod; and the plates need not have triangular profiles

Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed. 

1. Apparatus for use with a boat having an outboard motor and a transom, the outboard motor being of the type having: a engine mounting bracket assembly including a portion gripping the transom and a portion defining a plurality of pairs of trim holes; a steering post pivotally mounted to the engine mounting bracket assembly; a main assembly including: a powerhead containing an engine; a midsection extending from the powerhead; a lower unit extending from the powerhead; and a steering post bearing bracket disposed proximal to the junction of the midsection and lower unit, the steering post bearing bracket: defining a bore through which the steering post extends, thereby to permit rotational movement of the main assembly about the steering post; defining two pairs of bolt holes, one of the pairs being disposed on the side of the steering post nearest the main assembly, the other of the pairs being disposed on the side of the steering post furthest the main assembly; and for each bolt hole, having a nut and bolt assembly, collectively securing the steering post bearing bracket to the post, the apparatus comprising: a pin which, in use, is received by one of the pairs of trim holes; a pair of plates which, in use, are secured to the main assembly using the other of the pairs of holes; and a brace which is adapted, when the brace and main assembly are operatively positioned and when the lower unit is locked against movement away from the transom, to be gripped between the plates and the pin, to restrain the main assembly against said pivotal movement.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plates define holes which, in use, communicate with the other of the pair of holes in the engine mounting bracket.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising two threaded rods and four nuts, which, in use, both secure the plate to the main assembly and provide for securement of the steering post bearing bracket to the post.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brace has a bore; and further comprising a pivot rod which extends between the plates and through the bore in the brace in use.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the brace terminates in a slot which, in use, receives the pin.
 6. Apparatus according to 5, wherein the brace has a pair of bores and a pair of jaws; and further comprising a plurality of spacers, thereby to permit use of the apparatus with a variety of boats. 